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Ecological debt Module Energy/Climate

Ecological debt Module Energy/Climate. Gert Goeminne. Center for Sustainable Development – Ghent University. The ecological debt of Belgium consists of

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Ecological debt Module Energy/Climate

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  1. Ecological debtModule Energy/Climate Gert Goeminne Center for Sustainable Development – Ghent University

  2. The ecological debt of Belgium consists of The ecological damage caused over time by Belgium in other countries or in an area under jurisdiction of another country through its production and consumption patterns, and/or the ecological damage caused over time by Belgium to ecosystems beyond national jurisdiction through its consumption and production patterns; and/or the exploitation or use of ecosystems and ecosystem goods and services over time by Belgium at the expense of the equitable rights to these ecosystems and ecosystem goods and services by other countries or individuals

  3. Overview • Introduction: the carbon cycle • Fossil energy consumption in Belgium • Fossil energy and ecological debt in a global context • Ecological debt and fossil fuel consumption/depletion • The Carbon Debt • Conclusions

  4. The carbon cycle

  5. Fossil fuel consumption in Belgium

  6. Energy (Self) Supporting Rate

  7. Import raw fossil fuels

  8. Belgium & Energy • 1830-2000: exponential increase in energy consumption • Belgium: locked into a (fossil) energy based infrastructure • Energy: from 100% self-supporting to 100% importing • Exported environmental & social pressure (extraction)

  9. Overview • Introduction: the carbon cycle • Fossil energy consumption in Belgium • Fossil energy and ecological debt in a global context • Ecological debt and fossil fuel consumption/depletion • The Carbon Debt • Conclusions

  10. Ecological debt • Ecological damage due to • Extraction activities (degradation & pollution) • Depletion of fossil fuel reserves • Climate change from CO2 emissions • Exploitation/use of ecosystem goods at the expense of the equitable rights of others • CO2 absorption capacity • Fossil fuel reserves

  11. Ecological debt and fossil fuel consumption/depletion  Proven World fossil fuel reserves (BP, 2002): 850 billion TOE = 140 ton/capita

  12. Overview • Introduction: the carbon cycle • Fossil energy consumption in Belgium • Fossil energy and ecological debt in a global context • Ecological debt and fossil fuel consumption/depletion • The Carbon Debt • Definition • General elements for implementation • The Belgian Carbon Debt • Conclusions

  13. Defining the Carbon Debt The carbon debt of a country A consists of: “over-emission of CO2 by country A over time with respect to a sustainable level“, and/or “over-emission of CO2 by country A over time at the expense of the equitable rights to the absorption capacity of the atmosphere by other countries or individuals”

  14. Defining the Carbon Debt • Sustainable level: 60% reduction (cfr. 1990) no ‘absolute’ levels of sustainability to “stabilise the world’s climate & to avoid worst consequences” (IPCC) Kyoto reduction for Belgium: 7,5% • Equitable rights: equal per capita? atmosphere ‘belongs’ to nobody varying geographical, climatic,… conditions adjusted egalitarianism

  15. Over-emitters Sustainable level Under-emitters • partly interstate: Historical Carbon Debt (HCD) • Over-emitters: HCD + (debtors) • Under-emitters: HCD – (creditors) intergenerational: Generational Carbon Debt (GCD) Debtors and Creditors Per capita CO2 emissions time Carbon debt:

  16. emission right = target emission – HCD/N (Compensation of the interstate HCD over N years) Implementing the carbon debt • GCD: a fund to assist future climate change victims? HCD as a measure for historical responsibility Common but differentiated responsibilities (UNFCCC) • HCD: basis for allocating future emission rights? Developed countries (HCD +) take the lead Developing countries (HCD -) get space to grow

  17. Contraction, Convergence and Compensation Over-emitters Per capita CO2 emissions Sustainable level Under-emitters time

  18. total carbon debt = 5787 million ton CO2 ? = 58 billion € The Belgian Carbon Debt

  19. Conclusions • Belgium’s infrastructure has been increasingly based on finiteforeign (fossil)energy • Need for ‘Post-Fossil’ Development Patterns • Developed countries could take the lead by recognizing and compensating their Carbon Debt

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